When to Plant Forage Soybeans in Coastal South Carolina

By Grant Woods,

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I am in coastal South Carolina and am interested in planting forage soybeans.  When is the best time to plant in my area and is it best to plant or drill seeds?

Thanks,

Kyle

Kyle,

Soybeans usually do very well if they are planted when the soil at 2 inches deep is 62 degrees and there is adequate soil moisture.  In coastal South Carolina, this usually means planting beans during mid-spring.  If soybeans are planted when the soil temperature is cooler, the seeds will be slow to germinate and may lack vigor after they sprout.  If planted when the soil temperature is much warmer (in the high 70’s or 80’s), the heat can cause the young plants stress and drought conditions are magnified as the higher temperatures cause rapid moisture evaporation from the soil.  Planting when the soil temperature is 62 degrees also allows the soybeans to germinate during a time when native herbaceous vegetation is usually at peak quality.  This serves to reduce the browse pressure deer will direct toward the immature soybean plants.  If soybeans are planted later during the growing season, much of the native vegetation will have matured and decreased in quality.  This focuses much more browse pressure on the newly established beans and makes it difficult for them to survive.

However, it’s difficult to always be prepared to plant at the best times.  This is especially true since the “best time” will be slightly different each year depending on local weather conditions.  I recently started a new project in coastal North Carolina.  I didn’t receive the contract till June 1st.  We planted 53 acres of beans during the second week of June.  They germinated and are growing, but I’m very worried about drought conditions due to the sandy soil where we planted.  Next year, I’ll be geared up to plant at that location much earlier.

Since it is about impossible to cover soybean seed the appropriate depth by broadcasting and then attempting to cover the seed, I strongly prefer using a drill (no-till or conventional if seedbed is has been prepared) to plant soybeans or any large sized seed.  Soybeans need to be covered with ½” to 1” of soil, depending on the soil’s texture and available soil moisture.

Growing Deer together,

Grant